Jack Grealish might not be able to step onto the pitch for Everton after sustaining a serious foot injury but he continues to be influential at Finch Farm
Jack Grealish warms up prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Jack Grealish warms up prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
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Jack Grealish has continued to be a positive influence behind the scenes at Everton through the early stages of his recovery from a serious foot injury.
The playmaker faces months on the sidelines after suffering a stress fracture to his right foot. He underwent surgery last month and remains in the early stages of rehabilitation, during which he has been wearing a protective boot.
The 30-year-old has continued to have an impact at the club’s Finch Farm training ground, however, with David Moyes acknowledging: “He's really popular as you can imagine.”
Grealish has not played for Everton since he led them to a 1-0 win at Aston Villa, one of his former clubs, on January 18. He made it to the end of that game but informed club staff in the aftermath that, as well as a calf issue, he had been fighting through pain in his foot.
Tests revealed he had suffered a stress fracture and, after extensive deliberations, it was decided he would undergo surgery.
The news was devastating for the Blues and manager Moyes. The Premier League player of the month for August had lived up to his billing as a statement signing who could turbocharge the club’s battle for progress.
Grealish provided late winners against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth and his presence was key to the belief that was so important to other big results, including the win at Manchester United in November and then the success at Villa.
It was also a cruel blow given the talismanic loan signing had fought to steer Everton through a Christmas and new year beset by selection problems.
Four key players returned to Moyes’ squad after long absences for the game that followed the win at Villa Park - Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye from their successful Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Senegal, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite from long-term injury. Yet Grealish was unable to regroup with some of his most talented team-mates and was instead faced with the prospect of not playing again this season, a reality that has left his World Cup dreams in tatters.
He later shared an image of himself in a hospital bed along with the caption: "Didn’t want the season to end like this but that’s football, gutted. Surgery done and now all focus on getting back fit. I know for sure I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before.”
Whether Grealish has played his last game for Everton is not yet clear. Before his injury there was confidence on Merseyside that parent club Manchester City would be willing to do business for considerably less than the £50m price written as an option into the loan deal. The injury, coupled with City's January signing of Antoine Semenyo, is unlikely to have changed that.
Moyes was open to conversations over retaining a player he sees as symbolic of the Blues' attempt to return to the higher reaches of the Premier League. But there was an acceptance at Finch Farm that any deal would largely be down to Grealish, who has credited Moyes and the club with helping to rekindle his love for football but whose City wages would be beyond the reach of Everton. How he recovers from his injury is now an additional factor in that process.
Yet while his long-term future may be uncertain, Grealish remains with the Blues. And though that may be because there was no option to terminate his loan spell in the event of injury, he remains central to the squad even if he is unable to step onto the pitch.
Grealish, who is undertaking his recovery under the guidance of Everton, has repeatedly posted supportive messages of his team-mates and praised their endeavours on social media, most recently sharing an image with Jordan Pickford to wish the England goalkeeper a happy birthday.
The treble winner with Man City posted a gym picture on Instagram this week, writing: "So so locked in to come back stronger than ever.”
Moyes, meanwhile, has accepted his presence is of value to his team-mates. Asked whether he remains a valuable influence, the Everton boss said this week: “Yeah, he's really popular as you can imagine, very popular.”
Moyes said Grealish had been wearing a protective boot through the early weeks of his recovery but was now progressing towards being able to step up his training by undertaking work in the swimming pool.